U.S. patent application number 09/922930 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for device and method for controlling temperature of injection molding machine using temperature controller.
Invention is credited to Yu, Young-Hee.
Application Number | 20020063355 09/922930 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19701686 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020063355 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yu, Young-Hee |
May 30, 2002 |
Device and method for controlling temperature of injection molding
machine using temperature controller
Abstract
Disclosed is a device and a method for controlling a temperature
of an injection molding machine using a temperature controller, in
which a temperature of feed water fed from a cooling tower to the
injection molding machine is controlled by heat supplied from a
heater, and then a temperature of the injection molding machine is
controlled by opening or closing a plurality of opening and closing
means to regulate feeding of the water from the cooling tower to
the injection molding machine. By the present invention, a time
required for controlling the temperature of the injection molding
machine and a preheating time at an initial operation stage can be
shortened.
Inventors: |
Yu, Young-Hee; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY
600 13TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3096
US
|
Family ID: |
19701686 |
Appl. No.: |
09/922930 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
264/40.6 ;
425/143 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 45/78 20130101;
B22D 17/32 20130101; B22D 17/2218 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
264/40.6 ;
425/143 |
International
Class: |
B29C 045/77 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 27, 2000 |
KR |
2000-0070948 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for controlling a temperature of an injection molding
machine using a temperature controller comprising: a first and a
second pump for forcedly supplying feed water from a cooling tower
to a pipe within the injection molding machine and a heater by
their pumping actions, respectively, the heater heating the feed
water supplied from the cooling tower by the pumping action of the
first pump and supplying the heated water to the pipe within the
injection molding machine; a first opening and closing means
provided between the pipe within the injection molding machine and
the heater for regulating feeding of the water from the heater to
the pipe within the injection molding; a second opening and closing
means provided between the pipe within the injection molding
machine and the first pump for regulating returning of the water
from the pipe within the injection molding machine to the first
pump; a third opening and closing means provided between the pipe
within the injection molding machine and the second pump for
regulating feeding of the water from the second pump to the pipe
within the injection molding machine; a fourth opening and closing
means provided between the pipe within the injection molding
machine and the cooling tower for regulating discharging of the
water from the pipe within the injection molding machine to the
cooling tower; temperature sensors for detecting temperatures of
the feed water from the cooling tower, the hot water within the
heater and the cooling water within the injection molding machine;
and control means for controlling operations of the injection
molding machine and controlling actions of the pumps, the heater
and the first to fourth opening and closing means depending on
temperature values of the temperature sensors and setting values of
a timer.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first to the
fourth opening and closing means is a solenoid valve.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a check valve is
provided at a rear end of the solenoid valve.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second and the fourth
opening and closing means further includes a manifold,
respectively.
5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the control means
controls the temperatures of the injection molding machine by
selectively opening or closing a plurality of the opening and
closing means to regulate the inflow or discharge of the cooling
water into or from the injection molding machine.
6. A method for controlling a temperature of an injection molding
machine using a temperature controller, the method comprising the
steps of: controlling a temperature of feed water fed from a
cooling tower to the injection molding machine by actuating a
temperature controller for heating the water; and then controlling
a temperature of the injection molding machine by opening or
closing a plurality of opening and closing means to regulate
feeding of the water from the cooling tower to the injection
molding machine.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of controlling
the temperature of the injection molding machine is performed by
selectively opening or closing a plurality of the opening and
closing means to regulate the inflow or discharge of the cooling
water into or from the injection molding machine.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a device and a method for
controlling a temperature of an injection molding machine, and more
particularly to a device and a method for controlling a temperature
of an injection molding machine using a temperature controller, in
which a time required for controlling the temperature of the
injection molding machine and a preheating time at an initial stage
of an operation can be shortened.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In order to increase quality of products and reduce
production of defective products in accordance with change in a
temperature of cooling water, and to reduce power consumption due
to unnecessary operation of a cooling tower, Korean Utility Model
Application No. 1999-25871 filed on Dec. 12, 1999 discloses a
device for controlling a temperature of cooling water of an
injection molding machine including a mold, which has a cooling
water bucket and a cooling tower as in the prior art, but further
has a series of structures that a temperature sensing bar is
provided in the cooling water bucket while being connected to a
thermostat, and that the thermostat is in turn connected to the
cooling tower to be switched between "on" and "off" states.
[0005] In case of controlling the temperature of the cooling water
of the injection molding machine by such a temperature control
device of above structures, however, the temperature is controlled
not entirely but partially at one time, which results in problems
of deteriorating the quality of the products and producing the
defective products. There is also a disadvantage in that it takes a
very long time to heat the injection molding machine at the initial
stage of the operation only by heat for the injection molding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to overcome
the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present
invention to provide a device and a method for controlling a
temperature of an injection molding machine using a temperature
controller, in which a time required for controlling a temperature
of the injection molding machine and a preheating time at an
initial stage of an operation can be shortened.
[0007] To accomplish this object, there is provided a device for
controlling a temperature of an injection molding machine using a
temperature controller in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, the device comprising:
[0008] a first and a second pump for forcedly supplying feed water
from a cooling tower to a pipe within the injection molding machine
and a heater by their pumping actions, respectively, the heater
heating the feed water supplied from the cooling tower by the
pumping action of the first pump and supplying the heated water to
the pipe within the injection molding machine;
[0009] a first opening and closing means provided between the pipe
within the injection molding machine and the heater for regulating
feeding of the water from the heater to the pipe within the
injection molding;
[0010] a second opening and closing means provided between the pipe
within the injection molding machine and the first pump for
regulating returning of the water from the pipe within the
injection molding machine to the first pump;
[0011] a third opening and closing means provided between the pipe
within the injection molding machine and the second pump for
regulating feeding of the water from the second pump to the pipe
within the injection molding machine;
[0012] a fourth opening and closing means provided between the pipe
within the injection molding machine and the cooling tower for
regulating discharging of the water from the pipe within the
injection molding machine to the cooling tower;
[0013] temperature sensors for detecting temperatures of the feed
water from the cooling tower, the hot water within the heater and
the cooling water within the injection molding machine; and
[0014] control means for controlling operations of the injection
molding machine and controlling actions of the pumps, the heater
and the first to fourth opening and closing means depending on
temperature values of the temperature sensors and setting values of
a timer.
[0015] It is preferred that each of the first to the fourth opening
and closing means is a solenoid valve, and a check valve is
provided at a rear end of the solenoid valve.
[0016] The second and the fourth opening and closing means may
further include a manifold, respectively.
[0017] The control means preferably controls the temperatures of
the injection molding machine by selectively opening or closing a
plurality of the opening and closing means to regulate the inflow
or discharge of the cooling water into or from the injection
molding machine.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method for controlling a temperature of an
injection molding machine using a temperature controller, the
method comprising the steps of:
[0019] controlling a temperature of feed water fed from a cooling
tower to the injection molding machine by actuating a temperature
controller for heating the water; and then
[0020] controlling a temperature of the injection molding machine
by opening or closing a plurality of opening and closing means to
regulate feeding of the water from the cooling tower to the
injection molding machine.
[0021] The step of controlling the temperature of the injection
molding machine is preferably performed by selectively opening or
closing a plurality of the opening and closing means to regulate
the inflow or discharge of the cooling water into or from the
injection molding machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more apparent from the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one preferred embodiment of a
device for controlling a temperature of an injection molding
machine using a temperature controller in accordance with the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another preferred embodiment
of the device for controlling a temperature of an injection molding
machine using a temperature controller in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of temperature control actions of the
device for controlling a temperature of an injection molding
machine using a temperature controller in accordance with the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In
the following description and all drawings, the same reference
numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and
so repetition of the description of the same or similar components
will be omitted.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present invention
concerns a device for controlling a temperature of an injection
molding machine using a temperature controller by supplying cooling
or hot water to a pipe within the injection molding machine
comprising a fixed mold and a moving mold. FIG. 1 depicts the pipe
diverging into two branch pipes and FIG. 2 depicts the pipe
diverging into four branch pipes. Of course, solenoid valves or
check valves are disposed corresponding to the number of the branch
pipes.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, the temperature control device
according to the present invention includes a first and a second
pump 3, 4 for supplying feed water from a cooling tower to a pipe 2
within the injection molding machine 1 and a heater 6 by their
pumping actions, respectively. The heater 6 heats the feed water
supplied from the cooling tower by the pumping action of the first
pump 3 and supplying the heated water to the pipe 2 within the
injection molding machine 1. The temperature control device of the
present invention also includes a first opening and closing means
provided between the pipe 2 within the injection molding machine 1
and the heater 6 for regulating feeding of the water from the
heater 6 to the pipe 2 within the injection molding 1, a second
opening and closing means provided between the pipe 2 within the
injection molding machine 1 and the first pump 3 for regulating
returning of the water from the pipe 2 within the injection molding
machine 1 to the first pump 3, a third opening and closing means
provided between the pipe 2 within the injection molding machine 1
and the second pump 4 for regulating feeding of the water from the
second pump 4 to the pipe 2 within the injection molding machine 1,
a fourth opening and closing means provided between the pipe 2
within the injection molding machine 1 and the cooling tower for
regulating discharging of the water from the pipe 2 within the
injection molding machine 1 to the cooling tower. The temperature
control device of the present invention further includes
temperature sensors S1 to S6 for detecting temperatures of the feed
water from the cooling tower, the hot water within the heater 6 and
the cooling water within the injection molding machine 1, and
control means for controlling operations of the injection molding
machine 1 and controlling actions of the pumps 3, 4, the heater 6
and the first to fourth opening and closing means depending on
temperature values of the temperature sensors and setting values of
a timer.
[0029] Solenoids valves SV1 to SV16 are used as the first to the
fourth opening and closing means. Check valves CV1 to CV17 may be
provided at each of rear ends of the solenoid valves S1 to S16 so
as to prevent inverse flowing of the cooling water, and the second
and the fourth opening and closing means may be further provided
with a manifold, respectively so as to reduce the number of the
solenoid valves.
[0030] In addition, the control means is so constructed that it
controls the temperatures of the injection molding machine 1 by
selectively opening or closing a plurality of the opening and
closing means, that is, the solenoid valves S1 to S16 to regulate
the inflow or discharge of the cooling water into or from the
injection molding machine 1.
[0031] Of non-explained reference numerals in the drawings,
reference numerals "PG1 to PG6" designate pressure gauges for
indicating pressures of the cooling water flowing through the pipe
2, and reference numeral "SW" designates a hydraulic switch
actuated depending on water pressure of the feed water from the
cooling tower.
[0032] The operation of so constructed temperature control device
of the present invention is as follows:
[0033] First, the feed water from the cooling water (not shown) is
filtered by passing through a filter 5 and is supplied to each of
the first and the second pumps 3, 4. At this time, the hydraulic
switch SW is actuated in accordance with the water pressure of the
feed water from the cooling tower. In addition, the temperature
sensor S1 and the pressure gauge PG1 detect the temperature and the
pressure of the feed water from the cooling tower and send signals
to the control means (not shown), respectively.
[0034] While electric power is being supplied to the temperature
controller only for heating the water, the highest temperature of
the temperature control heater and the heater actuating time of the
timer are then set. Thus, the heater 6, used as the temperature
controller for heating the water, is actuated under the control of
the control means. The control means simultaneously closes the
solenoid valves SV1 to SV4 to prevent the feed water from being
supplied immediately to the injection molding machine 1.
[0035] The control means also opens the solenoid valves SV5 to SV8
and the solenoid valves SV9 to SV12 to allow the outflow of water
heated by the heater 6 through the pipe 2 and to preheat the
injection molding machine 1. At this time, the control means
compares the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor
S2 with the preset temperature value to control quantity of the
heat generated by the heater 6.
[0036] After the preheating of the injection molding machine 1 is
finished in this way, the control means closes the solenoid valves
SV5 to SV8 and the solenoid valves SV9 to SV12 and opens the
solenoid valves SV1 to SV4 and the solenoid valves SV13 to SV16 in
order that the feed water from the temperature controller only for
cooling the water, used as the cooling tower, may be supplied
immediately to the injection molding machine 1 to lower its
temperature.
[0037] When the solenoid valves SV1 to SV4 and the solenoid valves
SV13 to SV16 are made to be in opened states, the control means
compares the temperature values detected by the temperature sensors
S3 to S6 with the preset temperature value to control the
temperature of the injection molding machine 1 by regulating the
opened state of the solenoid valves SV1 to SV4 and the solenoid
valves SV13 to SV16.
[0038] In particular, the control means not only controls the
opening and closing actions of the solenoid valves SV1 to SV4 by
means of a pulse-type action, but also controls the temperature of
the injection molding machine 1 by separately opening or closing
the solenoid valves provided in the pipe diverging into a plurality
of branch pipes within the injection molding machine, thereby
making it possible to uniformly control the temperature of the
injection molding machine as a whole and thus to lower a defective
rate of the products.
[0039] Preferably, by making diameters of the branch pipes for
drainage larger and providing a separate pump for drainage so as to
shorten an exchange time of the cooling water, the whole
temperature of the injection molding machine can be rapidly and
uniformly controlled.
[0040] As described above, the present invention provides a device
and a method for controlling a temperature of an injection molding
machine using a temperature controller, in which a temperature of
feed water fed from a cooling tower to the injection molding
machine is controlled by heating of a heater, and then a
temperature of the injection molding machine is controlled by
opening or closing a plurality of opening and closing means to
regulate feeding of the water from the cooling tower to the
injection molding machine, thereby shortening a time required for
controlling the temperature of the injection molding machine and a
preheating time at an initial stage of operation.
[0041] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *